Magee makes presence felt early, often with Fire

After late-May trade, Chicago native has helped put team back in MLS playoff contention

July 06, 2013|By Jack McCarthy, Special to the Tribune

Mike Magee (right) is congratulated by Alex after scoring a goal during the second half against the Timbers at Toyota Park. (Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports)

After kick-starting his Fire career with a team-record seven goals in seven matches, it seemed inevitable that Mike Magee's torrid pace eventually would ease.

So he didn't mind being shut out Wednesday in the Fire's 3-2 victory over the Earthquakes.

"(Scoring) doesn't matter," said Magee, who did assist on a goal. "We won."

The 28-year-old forward has helped turn the tables on a miserable 1-4-1 start, putting the Fire — unbeaten in their last six MLS matches — back in contention for an Eastern Conference playoff spot at 6-7-3.

Magee brushed off credit for the team's U-turn, but it's no coincidence the two-time MLS champion and Chicago native has been a catalyst.

"I didn't think I was going to come in here and score my first seven games," he said. "But I put enough pressure on myself to expect to win every game. And I found out right away that these guys are willing to fight and battle as well. ... And since I've been here I've seen guys playing out of their minds."

The Fire are 4-0-1 in MLS play since Magee arrived from the Galaxy in late May and would hit .500 with a victory over Sporting Kansas City on Sunday as the season hits its midpoint.

They've also reached the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinals with three straight victories. Magee scored in each.

"I read the game pretty well and I've learned that my teammates are going to create chances for me," he said. "I've just got to be in the right spots, and if I do that, I'll be the beneficiary."

The versatile Magee might be the Fire's most significant in-season acquisition since Mexican standout Cuauhtemoc Blanco arrived in April 2007. Blanco went on to win MLS Newcomer of the Year and Goal of the Year honors, was a finalist for league MVP and helped the Fire make runs to Eastern Conference championship matches in 2007 and 2008.

Magee last week was named MLS player of the month for June. He entered the weekend tied for second in the league with a career-high 10 goals — he scored six with the Galaxy — and was among the top four midfielders in All-Star voting.

"It's been a boost for us to have somebody who can come in and score goals," veteran defender Gonzalo Segares said. "He has a lot of experience, won championships with the Galaxy and is a competitor as well. ... He's helped a lot with the confidence of the team.

"Just like Mike, Blanco came in at a time when we were struggling a little bit and they definitely contributed to getting the team to be better."

Coach Frank Klopas noted his new acquisition's impact after Magee scored in his first MLS match with the Fire last month against D.C. United.

"You saw the quality that he has, his leadership that he brings on the field," Klopas said. "He's just very smart. The way he moves on the field, he wants the ball in difficult spots and he always seems to be in the right moment at the right time. He's a quality player (who's) going to make our team better."

Raised in Elmhurst, Magee eschewed a traditional route through high school and college soccer, instead opting to play for the Chicago Sockers club team. After his freshman year at St. Viator High School, he moved to U.S. Soccer's national team training program in Florida.

Magee was drafted in 2003 by the New York MetroStars (now the Red Bulls) and at 18 years, 222 days became the youngest player to start and score in an MLS match. He finished his rookie season with seven goals.

After injuries limited him to 24 matches over two seasons, Magee scored five goals in 26 matches in 2008.

He was traded to the Galaxy in 2009 and helped Los Angeles win back-to-back MLS Cups in 2011 and 2012. Magee was particularly effective in postseason play with eight goals in 15 matches.

Magee's path to Chicago began with an unrelated trade that sent Dominic Oduro to Columbus for Dilly Duka and the rights to retired forward Robbie Rogers. The one-time U.S. National Team member who had played for the Crew and in Europe revealed in February he is gay and promptly retired from soccer.

The retirement was short-lived as Rogers began working out with the Galaxy — even as the Fire retained his rights.

Rogers then said he wanted to return to soccer but only if he could play close to his family in Los Angeles, so the Fire demanded a quality player in return. Magee expressed a desire to return home, and the deal was completed.

"It was a very challenging negotiation," said Javier Leon, Fire president. "The Galaxy were reluctant to part ways with a player like Mike Magee, who had been such a key for them in the last two championship seasons. But, I give them a lot of credit for giving Mike an opportunity to come back and play in front of his family and the home fans."

And Magee, who called Chicago his home but maintained long-distance relationships while playing on the East and West coasts, is relishing the opportunity.

"We kept in touch," he said. "(Now) I'm constantly around my family and my cousins and friends and people I've been close with the entire time I was gone.